Why won t my MP4 upload to LinkedIn?

Quick Answer

There are a few common reasons why MP4 videos may not upload properly to LinkedIn:

• File size too large – LinkedIn has a file size limit of 100MB for video uploads.
• Unsupported file format – Make sure your MP4 video is encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio. Other formats may not be supported.
• Aspect ratio incorrect – LinkedIn requires a 16:9 aspect ratio for uploaded videos.
• Upload errors – Temporary server errors or internet connection issues could disrupt the upload.

To fix, try trimming your video file size, re-encoding if necessary, adjusting the aspect ratio, and retrying the upload until it completes successfully.

What File Size Does LinkedIn Support for MP4 Videos?

LinkedIn supports MP4 video files up to a maximum size of 100MB. If your video exceeds this size limit, LinkedIn will fail to fully process and publish it on your profile or page.

Here are LinkedIn’s published video requirements:

• File size: up to 100MB
• Resolution: 720p or 1080p
• Aspect ratio: 16:9
• Video codec: H.264
• Audio codec: AAC
• Maximum length: 10 minutes

If your raw MP4 video captured from a device like a smartphone or camera is over 100MB, you’ll need to use video compression software to reduce the file size before uploading to LinkedIn.

Some tips for compressing MP4 video file size include:

• Use video editing software like Final Cut, Premiere, or DaVinci Resolve to export at a lower bitrate.
• Reduce the resolution to 720p if the original is 1080p or higher resolution.
• Shorten the video if it is longer than the 10 minute limit.
• Use online compression tools like Handbrake, Clipchamp, or Kapwing.

After compressing your MP4, check that the file size is under 100MB before re-uploading to LinkedIn to meet the size restrictions.

What Video Format Does LinkedIn Support?

LinkedIn requires MP4 videos to use the H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec. Here are the key video specifications:

• Container: MP4
• Video codec: H.264
• Audio codec: AAC
• Resolution: Minimum 720p, recommended 1080p
• Aspect ratio: 16:9 widescreen

If your source MP4 uses different codecs like HEVC, MPEG-2, or MOV containers, you’ll need to re-encode or convert it to a supported MP4 format for LinkedIn.

Some ways to convert video to a LinkedIn-supported MP4 include:

• Use Handbrake to encode MP4s with H.264 video.
• Import the video into editing software and export with the right codec and settings.
• Use a free online converter like CloudConvert or Zamzar to change codecs.
• Use FFmpeg from the command line to encode MP4 files.

Double check your video file properties after converting or encoding to ensure it meets LinkedIn’s published specifications before re-uploading.

What Aspect Ratio Does LinkedIn Require?

LinkedIn requires uploaded videos to use a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio. If your video has a different aspect ratio like 4:3 or 1:1, it will likely fail to process and publish on LinkedIn.

Here are some common aspect ratios:

• 16:9 – The standard widescreen aspect ratio used for HD video and LinkedIn uploads.
• 4:3 – The traditional fullscreen standard definition aspect ratio.
• 1:1 – The square aspect ratio used for Instagram stories and Facebook videos.

To meet LinkedIn’s 16:9 requirement, you have a couple options:

• Set your camera, smartphone or video editor timeline to record at 16:9 initially.
• Use video editing software to change the canvas size and scale/crop the footage to fit 16:9.
• Add letterboxing to square or vertical video to fit the footage into a 16:9 frame.

Always double check the final rendered aspect ratio before exporting and uploading your video to LinkedIn.

What Are Some Common LinkedIn Upload Errors?

If LinkedIn is unable to fully process your MP4 video upload, some common error messages you may see include:

• “Error compressing video file.”
• “Unsupported video format/codec.”
• “Your video file is too large.”
• “Unexpected aspect ratio.”
• “There was an error uploading your video. Please try again.”

Here are some troubleshooting tips for common LinkedIn upload errors:

If you run into a vague “upload error”, it’s usually best to try again later or from a different network, as it could be a temporary issue on LinkedIn’s servers.

How Can I Compress MP4 Files on Windows PC?

On Windows PCs, there are a few good options for compressing and reducing MP4 file sizes under 100MB for uploading to LinkedIn:

1. Handbrake

Handbrake is free, open source software for converting and compressing video files. To use Handbrake:

1. Download and install Handbrake on your Windows PC.
2. Open the program and click on “File” to import your video.
3. Under the “Presets” menu, choose “H.264 Video” and “AAC Audio”.
4. Click on the Video tab and reduce the resolution if needed.
5. Go to the Output settings and choose MP4 as the container.
6. Under Picture, adjust the quality slider to lower the file size.
7. Click “Start” to compress and encode the MP4.

2. Windows Photos App

The built-in Photos app for Windows 10 and 11 lets you simply trim and compress videos.

1. Open the video in the Photos app.
2. Click “Edit & Create” then “Trim”.
3. Drag the trim handles to shorten the length.
4. Click “Export” and choose “Compressed” to lower file size.
5. Select MP4 and check the file size, re-compressing if needed.

3. Online Converters

For quick compression without installing anything, use online tools like Clipchamp, Kapwing, or Handbrake’s online converter.

1. Go to the website and click “Upload” to add your video.
2. Look for encoding options to select H.264/MP4 output.
3. Use their resolution, codec, or quality sliders to compress and downsize the file.
4. Export and download the compressed MP4.

How to Compress MP4 Files on Mac?

Mac users can take advantage of built-in tools in QuickTime Player and iMovie to compress high resolution MP4 videos for uploading to LinkedIn.

1. QuickTime Player

QuickTime Player lets you easily trim, crop, and export videos in different sizes and formats.

1. Open your MP4 video in QuickTime Player.
2. Choose “Trim” to shorten the length if needed.
3. Click the down arrow beside the “Share” button and pick “Export As”.
4. Select 1080p or 720p resolution and MP4 format.
5. Adjust the compression quality slider to reduce file size.
6. Click “Save” to output the compressed MP4 video.

2. iMovie

For more advanced compression, editing, and exporting options, use Apple’s free iMovie app.

1. Import MP4 clips into an iMovie project.
2. Trim, crop, scale, or add letterboxing to adjust aspect ratio.
3. In share settings, choose 720p or 1080p resolution and MP4.
4. Adjust quality sliders to lower file size under 100MB.
5. Export finished video from iMovie in the compressed format.

3. Online Converters

The website-based online video converters outlined for Windows also work well on Mac for quick MP4 compression without needing to install any desktop apps.

How Can I Change Aspect Ratio with Video Editing Software?

If your raw video doesn’t match LinkedIn’s required 16:9 aspect ratio, you can use video editing apps to adjust the frame size and scale/crop footage to fit:

Premiere Pro

1. Import MP4 into a Premiere Pro project.
2. Right click on the clip name and select “Scale to Frame Size”.
3. Click on the number beside the aspect ratio and select 16:9.
4. In the effect controls, adjust scale and position to fit frame.
5. Export using H.264 and AAC codecs in MP4 format.

Final Cut Pro

1. With clip selected, choose “Transform” then “16:9”.
2. Right click and select “Scale to Fit” to fill the 16:9 frame.
3. Trim crop edges or use “Transform” to adjust position.
4. Export MP4 using H.264 codec and AAC audio.

DaVinci Resolve

1. Create new 16:9 timeline and import clips.
2. Right click on clip name and choose “Change Clip Resolution”.
3. Select “Scale full frame with crop” and click OK.
4. Trim and position clip as needed in the 16:9 timeline.
5. Export MP4 video in H.264/AAC format.

What Are Some Good Online Video Compressors?

Here are some recommended free online video compressor tools for reducing MP4 file sizes under LinkedIn’s 100MB limit:

Each has slightly different features, but all allow reducing MP4 file size easily right from your web browser without needing to install desktop software.

Top 5 Video Compression Tips for LinkedIn

To summarize the key tips for preparing MP4 videos for uploading to LinkedIn:

1. Keep file size under 100MB by lowering resolution, bitrate, frame rate, etc.
2. Use H.264 for video codec and AAC for audio codec.
3. Encode video with 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.
4. Trim length to 10 minutes max.
5. Confirm settings before exporting from editing apps.

Following these best practices for resolution, codec, aspect ratio, length, and compression will help ensure your MP4 uploads successfully to LinkedIn without any file size or formatting issues.

Conclusion

Uploading MP4 videos to LinkedIn can sometimes fail due to file size limits, unsupported codecs, incorrect aspect ratios, or other encoding issues. To troubleshoot, try compressing your video to under 100MB, converting to H.264/AAC MP4, adjusting to 16:9 aspect, and reviewing the file before uploading again. Using the right settings will help avoid frustrating errors so you can easily share engaging video content with your LinkedIn network.